PSALM CVI _God is praised for his manifold mercies_, 1-3. _The prophet prays for himself_, 4, 5. _A recapitulation of the history of the Hebrew people: of God's_ _mercies toward them, and their rebellions_, 6-39. _The judgments and afflictions which their transgressions brought_ _upon them_, 4... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:2. _WHO CAN UTTER THE MIGHTY ACTS OF THE LORD?_] His acts are all acts of _might_; and particularly those in behalf of his followers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:3. _BLESSED_ ARE _THEY THAT KEEP JUDGMENT_, AND _HE THAT DOETH_ _RIGHTEOUSNESS AT ALL TIMES._] How near do the _Anglo-Saxon_, the ancient _Scottish Version_, and the _present translation_, approach to each other! _Anglo-Saxon_. [A.S.]. "Blessed they that holdeth doom, and doth righ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:4. _REMEMBER ME_] This and the following clauses are read in the plural by several MSS.: _Remember US - that WE may rejoice, - that_ _WE may glory_, c.: and thus _all the Versions_ except the _Chaldee_ and this is more agreeable to the context.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:5. _THAT I MAY SEE THE GOOD OF THY CHOSEN_] That I may enjoy the good, for so the word _see_ is understood among the Hebrews. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall _see_ God," - they shall _enjoy_ him, possess his favour, and be made like unto him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:6. _WE HAVE SINNED_] Here the confession begins; what preceded was only the _introduction_ to what follows: Our _forefathers sinned_, and suffered; we, like them, have sinned, and do suffer.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:7. _OUR FATHERS UNDERSTOOD NOT_] They did not regard the operation of God's hands; and therefore they understood neither his designs nor their own interest. _AT THE SEA_, EVEN _AT THE RED SEA._] Some of the rabbins suppose that the repetition of the words point out _two_ faults of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:8. _HE SAVED THEM FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE_] למען שמו _lemaan_ _shemo_, "on account of his name;" to manifest his own power, goodness, and perfections. There was nothing which he could draw from them as a reason why he should save them; therefore he drew the reason from himself. There is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:9. _HE REBUKED THE RED SEA_] In the descriptions of the psalmist _every thing has life_. The _sea_ is an _animated being_, behaves itself proudly, is rebuked, and retires in confusion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:10. _THE HAND OF HIM THAT HATED_ THEM] Pharaoh.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:12. _THEN BELIEVED THEY_] Just while the miracle was before their eyes.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:13. _THEY SOON FORGAT HIS WORKS_] Three days afterwards, at the waters of Marah, Exodus 15:24. _THEY WAITED NOT FOR HIS COUNSEL_] They were impatient, and would not wait till God should in his own way fulfil his own designs.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:15. _SENT LEANNESS_] They despised the manna, and called it _light_, that is, _innutritive, bread_. God gave _flesh_ as they desired, but gave no blessing with it; and in consequence they did not fatten, but grew _lean_ upon it. Their souls also suffered want.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:16. _THEY ENVIED MOSES_] A reference to the case of _Korah_ and his company. _AARON THE SAINT._] The _anointed_, the _high priest_ of the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:20. _THUS THEY CHANGED THEIR GLORY_] That is, their God, who was their glory; and they worshipped an ox in his stead. See the use St Paul makes of this, Romans 1:23; see also the note there. Romans 1:23. The incorruptible God was thus served by all the heathen world.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:22. _WONDROUS WORKS IN THE LAND OF HAM_] The plagues inflicted on the _Egyptians_. Egypt is called the _Land of Ham_ or _Cham_, because it was peopled by _Misraim_ the son of _Cham_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:23. _MOSES HIS CHOSEN_] Or elect; (Vulgate, _electus ejus;_ _Septuagint_, ὁ εκλεκτος αυτου;) the person that he had _appointed_ for this work. It would be very difficult to show that this word in any part of the Old Testament refers to the _eternal state_ of any man, much less to t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:28. _THEY JOINED THEMSELVES ALSO UNTO BAALPEOR_] The _Vulgate, Septuagint_, and others, have _Belphegor_; the _Syriac_ and _Arabic_, the _idol Phegor_, or _Phaaur_; the ע _ain_ in the word being pronounced as _gh_. _ATE THE SACRIFICES OR THE DEAD_] מתים _methim_, of _dead men_. Mos... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:33. _THEY PROVOKED HIS SPIRIT_] המרו _himru_, from מרה _marah, to rebel_: they brought it into a rebellious state; he was soured and irritated, and was off his guard. _SO THAT HE SPAKE UNADVISEDLY WITH HIS LIPS._] For this _sentence_ we have only these _two words_ in the Hebrew, וי... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:36. _THEY SERVED THEIR IDOLS_] עצביהם _atsabbeyhem_, their _labours_ or _griefs_-idols, so called because of the _pains_ taken in _forming_ them, the _labor_ in _worshipping_ them, and the _grief_ occasioned by the _Divine judgments_ against the people for their idolatry.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:37. _THEY SACRIFICED THEIR SONS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS UNTO_ _DEVILS._] See the places referred to in the margin (2 Kings 16:3; Isaiah 57:5; Ezekiel 16:20; Ezekiel 20:26). That _causing_ _their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Moloch_ did not always mean they _burn... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:39. _AND WENT A WHORING._] By _fornication, whoredom_, and _idolatry_, the Scripture often expresses _idolatry_ and _idolatrous_ _acts_. I have given the reason of this in other places. Besides being false to the true God, to whom they are represented as _betrothed_ and _married_, ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:40. _THEREFORE WAS THE WRATH OF THE LORD KINDLED_] God _kindled a fire_ in his judgments for those who by their flagitious conduct had _inflamed_ themselves with their idols, and the _impure rites_ with which they were worshipped.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:43. _MANY TIMES DID HE DELIVER THEM_] See the Book of _Judges_; it is a history of the rebellions and deliverances of the Israelites.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:46. _HE MADE THEM ALSO TO BE PITIED_] This was particularly true as to the Babylonish captivity; for _Cyrus_ gave them their liberty; _Darius_ favoured them, and granted them several privileges; and _Artaxerxes_ sent back Nehemiah, and helped him to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:47. _SAVE US. O LORD - AND GATHER US_] These words, says _Calmet_, are found in the hymn that was sung at the ceremony of bringing the ark to Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 16:35-13; but it is supposed they were added by Ezra or some other prophet: here they are in their natural place. The... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 106:48. _BLESSED_ BE _THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL_] Here both _gratitude_ and _confidence_ are expressed; _gratitude_ for what God had already wrought, and _confidence_ that he would finish the great work of their restoration. _FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING_] מן האולם ועד האולם _min haola... [ Continue Reading ]